Former Viper Dobrowolski Junior Career Ends In Game 4 Loss:

Former Vernon Vipers forward, James Dobrowolski and the WHL Prince George Cougars season has come to an end with a 4-2 loss in Game 4 to the Kelowna Rockets. Kelowna won the series 4-0. Dobrowolski's junior hockey career has now come to an end as the 20 yr old forward played his final game in the WHL. Dobrowolski played in three games as an "AP" with the Vipers back in 2006-07 before joining the WHL Prince Albert Raiders the following season.

This is posted on the Cougars website:

Cougars Season Ends With 4-2 Loss To Rockets

March 30, 2011

The Prince George Cougars saw their 17th season come to a close at the hands of the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night at CN Centre, falling 4-2 in game 4 of the Kal Tire Western Conference Quarter Final series.

The Cougars fell behind 3-0 in the best of 7 series with a 7-6 loss in game 3 and for the second straight game the Rockets got on the board first. Zak Stebner pounded home a loose puck at 11:00 for a 1-0 Rockets lead on the power play. The Rockets nearly went up 2-0 on another power play in the first when Kevin Smith appeared to have an empty net to shoot at, but Ty Rimmer reached back with his goal stick to make a dazzling save to keep the deficit at one for the Cougars. The Rockets had an 11-8 lead in shots through one period.

The Rockets upped their lead to two when Damon Severson scored at 3:27, blowing a shot over the glove side for a 2-0 Kelowna lead. The Cougars had a 5-on-3 power play later in the second and made it count for the second straight night. Sena Acolatse ripped home his Cougars high third goal of the series, blasting the water bottle off the Rockets goal on a one-time shot at 9:59. Martin Marincin and James Dobrowolski earned the assists. The Cougars out-shot the Rockets 12-10 in the middle frame and for the first time in the series were trailing going to the third down 2-1.

In the third the Cougars had a turn of events that cost them the tying goal and saw the Rockets reclaim a two goal lead. Dobrowolski appeared to score by banking a shot from the left wing side behind Adam Brown. However, referee Derek Zalaski called the goal back, claiming Taylor Stefishen impeded Brown from making a save in the crease. The tough no-goal call was immediately followed by Shane McColgan banging home his own rebound through Rimmer's legs for a 3-1 Rockets lead at 4:14. The Cougars came back to within a goal at 8:15 when Alex Forsberg, the first overall pick by the Cougars in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, knocked home his first WHL goal to make it a 3-2 Rockets. But McColgan would end the scoring in the series by banging home his second of the game at 10:31 for a 4-2 Rockets lead and eventual win, sweeping the series in four straight. The Cougars out-shot the Rockets 15-10 in the third and 35-31 in the game. The Cougars went 1-for-6 on the power play and the Rockets were 1-for-4.

The Cougars and their fans exchange a salute to each other at the end of the game, with Wednesday being the last WHL game for 20-year olds James Dobrowolski, Sena Acolatse and Taylor Stefishen. The next order of business for the Cougars is preparing for the 2011-12 season with the WHL Bantam Draft taking place on May 5 in Calgary. The Cougars hold the 10th overall pick.